UA News

Outsourcing and offshoring have become controversial buzzwords in business management. What are the pros and cons, and what direction is the practice taking?

Surya Kant, president for the North America operations of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will present "Trends in Outsourcing Services, A Vendor's Perspective" this Friday morning, Jan. 13. Focusing on the evolution, benefits, trends and future of outsourcing, Kant will speak from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Room 123 McClelland Hall, The University of Arizona, 1130 E. Helen St., Tucson, Ariz.

TCS is a leading global IT services firm. Started in 1968 with a focus on India, it is rapidly expanding its international reach. In 2006 its revenues topped that of nearest Indian rival, Infosys Technologies, by $1 billion. TCS projects revenues to be near $10 billion by 2010, and looks to join the global top-10, which includes IBM Global Services, HP Services, EDS, and Accenture.

Kant's IT experience spans 27 years and the globe. In his current capacity he is responsible for overseeing and strengthening customer relationships and revenue in the U.S. and Canada. He also plays a key role in growing TCS business in new markets and expanding its range of technology and service offerings.

"It is very exciting to have an executive of this caliber come to Tucson to speak to students and the community. The Tata Group is the largest conglomerate in India. It can be compared with General Motors or Microsoft here in the United States," comments Amar Gupta, Brown Chair in Management and Technology and professor of MIS and entrepreneurship.

Kant is the inaugural guest lecturer for Dr. Amar Gupta's new course, International Business with an Emphasis on India, which brings in regular speakers. The course explores dynamics of international business and globalization, the effect on the economic policies of a country and how individuals in other countries are impacted by such developments.

The lecture is free and open to the public.

For more information about attending this course to hear other speakers, please contact Dr. Amar Gupta for more information at gupta@eller.arizona.edu or (520) 626-9842.

The Eller College of Management at The University of Arizona is internationally recognized for pioneering research, innovative curriculum, distinguished faculty, excellence in entrepreneurship and social responsibility, and its top-5 MIS program. Both U.S. News & World Report and Forbes rank the Eller MBA full-time program among the top 50 nationwide, and the College leads the nation's business schools in generating grant funds for research. In addition to a full-time MBA program, the Eller College offers a part-time MBA program, the Eller Executive MBA, and the ability to combine an MBA with graduate studies in science, engineering, law, pharmacy, finance, MIS, and international management. The Eller College of Management supports more than 4,500 undergraduate and 600 graduate students on the UA campus in Tucson, Ariz.